Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress presidential candidate, has criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the continued detention of a final-year student of Bayero University, Kano, who is due to begin her examinations this weekend.
Sowore raised the concern on Thursday after attending separate court proceedings involving two defendants arraigned by the EFCC before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik over allegations of cyberbullying the anti-graft agency.
One of the defendants, Maryam Isa Shehu, is a final-year BUK student who, according to Sowore, is scheduled to commence her final examinations on Saturday.
Sowore said Shehu and the other defendant had each spent almost 30 days in detention before they were brought before the court.
He said rather than being allowed to return home while their cases continued, both defendants were remanded in custody until August 31.
According to him, Shehu was taken to Suleja Prison, while the second defendant was remanded at Kuje Prison.
The development, Sowore argued, could jeopardise Shehu’s ability to complete her university education, given the proximity of her examinations.
“What makes Maryam’s situation even more disturbing is that she is a final-year university student who is due to begin her final examinations this Saturday,” he said.
“None of that appeared to matter.”
Sowore questioned the EFCC’s decision to pursue the alleged cyberbullying cases in such a manner, arguing that the agency should concentrate on its primary responsibility of investigating and prosecuting financial crimes.
“An anti-corruption agency should be fighting corruption, not turning itself into an institution for hunting down, detaining and prosecuting citizens over criticism or alleged ‘cyberbullying,’” he said.
The AAC candidate also questioned the circumstances surrounding the prolonged detention and subsequent remand of the defendants.
“What kind of institution detains a university student for nearly a month, arraigns her for allegedly cyberbullying the agency, and then seeks to keep her behind bars while her final examinations are about to begin?” he asked.
Sowore further condemned the leadership of the anti-graft agency, describing the EFCC under Ola Olukoyede as “inherently evil.”
His comments came amid the court proceedings involving the two defendants, who are expected to remain in custody until August 31.
Sowore did not disclose the specific social media publications or statements forming the basis of the cyberbullying allegations against the defendants in his statement.
The development has raised questions over the circumstances surrounding the detention of the BUK student and the potential impact of her continued custody on her final examinations.
